Stretcher device for wire fences



Nov. 11 1924. 1,514,639 J. R. TRIECE ET AL STRETCHER DEVICE FOR WIRE FENCES Filed May 10, 1922 suave/atom 9 05/) R mm. (7072/7 T Weaver Patented Nov, ll, i924.

r at a s e at relates JOHN R. TRIECE AND JOHN T. 'WEAVER, OF RO'CliY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA.

STRETCI-IER DEVICE RVIEE Appllication filed May 10, 1922. Serial No 559,379.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that we, JOHN R. Tmnon and JOHN T. WEAVER, citizens of the United States, residing at Rocky Mount, in the county of Edgecombe and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stretcher Devices for lVire Fences, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to a stretcher device for wire fences whereby the latter may be drawn to the desired tension.

An object of the invention is to provide a stretcher device of portable character and embodying a drum-carrying frame provided with ground-stakes for supporting the frame in a vertical position without requiring the use of braces.

A further object of the invention is to provide a stretcher device of the above character that is simple in construction, strong, and durable, and which it is believed may be manufactured at a reasonably low cost.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the continuance of the following description.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the inven tion showing the stretcher in its preferred embodiment.

Figure 2 is a plan view.

Figure 3 is a transverse cross section of the device as taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

This wire stretcher may be built of wood, metal or any other suitable material and embodying vertical members 1 and 2, and horizontal members 3 and 4, relatively notched and bolted together, as at 5 to provide the main frame or carrying structure of the invention. Side members 1 and 2 are extended below the lower cross piece 4 to provide ground-stakes 6 and 7 respectively sharpened at the points so as to more easily penetrate the ground. Post 1 is further extended above top cross piece 3 to provide a shoulder or abutment portion 8 for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

Disposed vertically between posts 1 and 2 is a roller or drum 9 tapering to its center and reduced in diameter at the opposite ends to provide journal portions 10 as shown. These journal portions have their bearings in half-circular recesses 11 respectively provided in the upper and lower cross pieces of the frame as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 3. Bearing caps 12 are bolted to the cross piece and straddle the journals of the drum so as to retain the latter in position.

Connected to drum 9 by suitable means 13 one of the cables 14-. which has its opposite end connected to a fence clamp 15. Clamp 15 embodies a pair of oppositely disposed clamp-bars 16 and 17 which have their inner opposing faces grooved longitudinally to provide teeth for gripping the wire strands of fence 18. These clamp-bars are mutually tightened by means of bolts 19. In stretching the fence, cable 14L is wound upon drum 9 which is turned by a hand-bar 20, one end of which is in an opening extending horizontally thru the upper portion of head block 21. Headblock 21 is attached to drum 9 in any suitable manner and is pierced with a lower horizontal opening arranged at an angle to the upper openin as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. his lower hole is adapted to receive a slidable stop-rod 22 which may be shifted so that one end will abut with shoulder 8 previously described. The object in having stop rod 22 is to enable the operator to cease winding the cable upon the drum at any desired instant and without permitting any material relaxation of the previously stretched fence. When rotating the drum to wind the cable the stoprod. is of course removed from head 21 but is replaced therein for abutment with the shoulder when it is desired to prevent the unwinding of the cable when bar handle 20 has been released.

From the foregoing it is believed that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily understood and it will be noted that such changes in the arrangement and combination of parts may be resorted to as fall properly within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is;

A stretcher device for a wire fence consisting of a supporting frame presenting an abutment at its upper end and having ground-stakes at its lower end adapted to be driven into the ground for holding the frame upright, a vertically disposed drum journaled in the said frame, a fence-clamp, a cable having one end connected to the said fence clamp and the other end connected to the said drum upon which it is adapted to be wound, a head-block mounted upon the upper journal portion of the said drum, said head block being pierced with relatively upper and loWer horizontally extending openings, and a rod extending through each of the said openings, the rod in the upper opening being adapted to serve as a handle for rotating the said drum, and the rod in the lower opening being shiftable at Will into engagement With the said abutment of the frame and serving as a stop-rod for preventing reversed rotation of the said drum When the handle is released. 10

In testimony whereof We affix our signatures.

JOHN R. TRIECE. JOHN T. WEAVER. 

